A Redo (Sterling Shore 6)

I walk in first, and Bella is right beside me. Allie’s face is bruised, and there’s a large cut on her forehead that seems to travel into her blonde hairline. Her hands are spread out beside her body, and there’s an IV.

“Why does she need that?” I worry, moving toward the line.

“It’s standard procedure to hook a patient up to fluids. Especially if they don’t know how long it’s been since they last had something to drink. Sit down. Don’t worry. Allie is fine.”

Don’t worry? She’s fucking crazy.

I pull the chair up, seeing better that her arms have numerous bruises, too. I wonder how much of her body has been hurt. She looks fragile, broken, and precious at the same time. I’d love nothing more than to curl up beside her and hold her all night, but I’m afraid I’d hurt her.

So I settle for holding the hand that doesn’t have a needle in it. She has some weird clip on her index finger that seems to be monitoring her heartbeat, but I work my fingers through hers like it isn’t there, and I hold on tight.

“How long are you staying?” Bella asks me, pulling a chair up as everyone else stays quiet.

“I’m not leaving her side.”

Chapter 38

ALLIE

Something soft tickles my arm, and my eyes jerk awake. My stiff body curses me for trying to move, and I groan inwardly at how sore I am. But I know where I am as I take in the surroundings.

I had to stay the night? Ohh… They gave me painkillers. I told them this would happen if they did that, but I couldn’t resist escaping the migraine that was forming.

Glancing out the window, I see the sun trying to rise, but it’s still dark, except for the small glimmer of light on the horizon. Then my eyes fall on Bella who has stuck two chairs together and made a very uncomfortable bed next to the window.

Why would she do that? She had to have read my chart. Just some stitches and a few mild bruises. She knew I’d be alright.

That same soft feeling tickles my arm again, and I jerk my eyes over to see the source. My heart melts, my eyes fill up with tears, and I smile down at the man who is clutching my hand, sleeping awkwardly with his head pressed just beside my arm and his body hunched over in a chair.

I lift my other hand, frowning when I see the IV line. Completely unnecessary.

Carefully, I shift so I can run my fingers through his hair, feeling the silky strands as I study the parts of his face that I can see. His trademark designer stubble is on his jawline; it makes him all the sexier.

His eyes are closed, but his dark eyebrows are puckered downward like he’s not resting peacefully. His lips are slightly parted, and I fight to keep from running my fingers across them. His dark lashes frame his eyes, making him look even more perfect as the light from the small bathroom casts a glow in the room around us. He almost looks like a dark angel in this moment.

He’s wearing a black T-shirt and dark jeans—not the blazer and tan slacks he had on when eating lunch with Erica. Has he been here all night?

“He wouldn’t leave your side.” At the sound of Tria’s soft, almost whispered voice, I look up, seeing her peek her head through the door.

She’s dressed in a pair of yoga pants and a hoodie. I glance down, seeing the horrible hospital gown I’m in, then back up to meet her eyes.

“Are you okay?” I whisper, still running my fingers through Wren’s silky hair as he sleeps.

“Yeah. I’m fine. Really sore, but it looks like nothing was broken or cracked, according to the x-rays. My torso is bruised pretty badly, but nothing internal seems to be going on.”

Her face is bruised as well where Pete struck her cheek, and it’s swollen enough to look painful. Her lip is cut and bruised from the wreck, but we’re both fortunate to have not sustained more injuries than that.

She limps in the rest of the way, and I assume Pete probably kicked her in the leg as well as the stomach when she brought her knees up to protect her middle.

“I woke up about an hour after I passed out,” she says, smiling weakly. “The cops have taken my statement. Pete is now in an infirmary at the prison since his wounds weren’t threatening enough to keep him in the hospital they took him to after he left here.”

She points to a bag that is resting in a chair by the door. “Ash felt helpless since she couldn’t bring Trip into the hospital and risk him catching something. He has a weak immune system. She knew Melanie already had Angel, and Melanie was stressed out enough without the addition of a toddler. So she went and got clothes for everyone, including Wren and Bella. She dropped them off at the hospital entrance. Brin met her outside and brought everything up here. Brin spent the night, alternating from your room to mine.”